that's a voluntary aid in helping parents decide what their children are

listening to. To make [warning stickers] something that now results in a

criminal stigma is obviously an ill-advised law."

The RIAA devised its voluntary parental-warning sticker program in 1985, in

response to criticism of graphic lyrics by activist groups such as the Parents Music Resource Center, which was co-founded by Vice President Al Gore's wife, Tipper. Since then, several states, including Pennsylvania, Louisiana and

Washington, have attempted and failed to pass bills that would make it

illegal to sell stickered albums to minors. The RIAA fought those measures, and testified against the bill before the Special Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

"This bill takes a voluntary program meant to provide guidance to parents

and turns it into a basis for convicting someone of a crime," said

Alexandra Walsh, spokeswoman for the RIAA. "We will continue to fight

against this clearly unconstitutional bill and we're confident that the

First Amendment will be upheld."

A responsible citizenry, however, has to balance First Amendment concerns

with the safety of its children, Muhammad said.

"People may say it's censorship but, I mean, when do we draw the line and

say, well, because I want my freedom of speech, this is the price that we

pay?" he asked. "Kids are growing up extremely fast -- extremely -- and there's not much, there's no innocence, because you may see someone's brains blasted, spread open, and you're so numb to it. You don't have a feeling, like, this is bad ... It's just so normal."

But according to rapper Ice Cube, the measure is just another form of censorship. "It's fascism. It's plain control, you know? They ain't gonna stop Toys R Us from selling plastic guns, are they?"

Despite his support for the Georgia bill, Muhammad said that he, however, was

uncomfortable with the government having a role in the voluntary stickering

process, and that he feared one day the state may be charged with deciding

which albums receive parental warning labels.

"Right now we really have to fine-tooth comb what should have a sticker and

what should not," Muhammad said. "I think it's wack that it boils down to

the government telling us, 'Look this is [OK], that [is not OK].' Because usually, once it gets that far, there's no turning back. And if you do turn it back, it takes so long."

And while Downs said he realizes that some artists are irresponsible, he added that the state has no right to intervene in how someone chooses to express himself. "I think it's a bad idea to have the government regulating speech like this," Downs said. "I think it's something that would not hold up under First Amendment scrutiny, and that it will be challenged successfully.

"But, in the meanwhile, there will be a very bad, chilling effect on the industry in Georgia and otherwise." [Tues., Feb. 3, 1998, 5 p.m. PST]